U.S. patent number 5,418,630 [Application Number 07/946,672] was granted by the patent office on 1995-05-23 for facsimile apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Masayuki Hachinoda, Motohiko Hayashi, Matahira Kotani, Hiroshi Mori.
United States Patent |
5,418,630 |
Mori , et al. |
May 23, 1995 |
Facsimile apparatus
Abstract
A facsimile apparatus is provided which can enhance the
operability and usefulness of portable image reading devices when
transmitting documents and which allows effective utilization of
the image reading device. The facsimile apparatus includes a main
unit and a separable handscanner between which image signals and
various control signals are transmitted using an optical
communication technique. A document is scanned by a handscanner
that generates signals representing the document image. The image
signals are temporarily stored in an image memory and transmitted
to the main unit when necessary. Depending on the hook state of the
telephone, the main unit either transmits the received image
signals to a remote station or records the image on recording
paper. When the main unit receives image signals over a telephone
network, the received image signals are transmitted to the
handscanner for storage into the image memory when necessary. This
is done for example, when the so-called memory reception mode is
set or when a recording section in the main unit is in a non-normal
state.
Inventors: |
Mori; Hiroshi (Ichikawa,
JP), Kotani; Matahira (Nara, JP), Hayashi;
Motohiko (Yamatokoriyama, JP), Hachinoda;
Masayuki (Nara, JP) |
Assignee: |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Osaka,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
26533634 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/946,672 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 18, 1991 [JP] |
|
|
3-238290 |
Sep 18, 1991 [JP] |
|
|
3-238291 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/472; 358/473;
358/484; 398/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
1/00095 (20130101); H04N 1/00111 (20130101); H04N
1/32363 (20130101); H04N 1/32379 (20130101); H04N
1/32496 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
1/32 (20060101); H04N 1/00 (20060101); H04N
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;358/400,401,402,405,409,410,442,473,474,476,479,484,472
;359/109,152,154 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2-76458 |
|
Mar 1990 |
|
JP |
|
2-146856 |
|
Jun 1990 |
|
JP |
|
2-274061 |
|
Nov 1990 |
|
JP |
|
3-160874 |
|
Jul 1991 |
|
JP |
|
3-169151 |
|
Jul 1991 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Ro; Bentsu
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A facsimile apparatus comprising:
a main unit including first image reading means for optically
reading a document for conversion into image signals, image
recording means for printing out images of the read document on
recording paper, and image signal communication means for
transmitting and receiving image signals over a telephone network;
and
second image reading means for optically reading a document for
conversion into image signals, the second image reading means being
portable,
the second image reading means including,
an image memory for storing the image signals of the document
optically read by the second image reading means, and
first communication means for transmitting the stored image signals
to the main unit via a wireless path,
the main unit further including,
second communication means for receiving the image signals from the
second image reading means,
matching signal detecting means for detecting a predetermined
matching signal received from a remote terminal over the telephone
network, and
control means for transferring the image signals received by the
second communication means to the image signal communication means
for transmission to the remote terminal when the predetermined
matching signal is detected by the matching signal detecting
means.
2. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first
communication means optically transmits the stored image signals to
the main unit.
3. The facsimile apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical
transmission is performed by photoelectric conversion.
4. The facsimile apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical
transmission is performed by light modulation.
5. A facsimile apparatus comprising:
a main unit including first image reading means for optically
reading a document for conversion into image signals, image
recording means for printing out images of the read document on
recording paper, and image signal communication means for
transmitting and receiving image signals over a telephone network;
and
second image reading means for optically reading a document for
conversion into image signals, the second image reading means being
portable and physically separable from the main unit,
the second image reading means including,
an image memory for storing the image signals of the document
optically read by the second image reading means, and
first communication means for optically transmitting the stored
image signals to the main unit via an optical wireless path,
the main unit further including,
second communication means for receiving the optically transmitted
image signals from the second image reading means,
telephone number storage means for storing a plurality of remote
terminal telephone numbers,
designating means for designating multi-address calling for
sequentially transmitting the received optically transmitted image
signals to each of a plurality of remote terminals, and
control means for sequentially calling each of the stored telephone
numbers read out of the telephone number storage means, in response
to the designating means, and for transferring the optically
transmitted image signals received by the second communication
means to the image signal communication means for multi-address
calling.
6. The facsimile apparatus of claim 5, wherein, the main unit
further includes an external telephone, signal detecting means for
detecting one of a pushbutton dial signal and a dial pulse signal
from the external telephone, and telephone number registration
means for writing an entered telephone number from the external
telephone to the telephone number storage means in accordance with
the output of the signal detecting means.
7. The facsimile apparatus of claim 6, wherein the optical
transmission is performed by photoelectric conversion.
8. The facsimile apparatus of claim 6, wherein the optical
transmission is performed by light modulation.
9. The facsimile apparatus of claim 5, wherein the optical
transmission is performed by photoelectric conversion.
10. The facsimile apparatus of claim 5, wherein the optical
transmission is performed by light modulation.
11. A facsimile apparatus comprising:
a main unit including first image reading means for optically
reading a document for conversion into image signals, image
recording means for printing out images of the read document on
recording paper, and image signal communication means for
transmitting and receiving image signals over a telephone network;
and
second image reading means for optically reading a document for
conversion into image signals, the second image reading means being
portable and physically separable from the main unit,
the second image reading means including,
an image memory for storing the image signals of the document
optically read by the second image reading means, and
first communication means for optically transmitting the stored
image signals to the main unit via an optical wireless path,
the main unit further including,
second communication means for receiving the optically transmitted
image signals from the second image reading means, and
control means for transferring the optically transmitted image
signals received by the second communication means to one of the
image recording means and the image signal communication means.
12. The facsimile apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first
communication means of the second image reading means includes a
receive function for receiving optically transmitted image signals
from the main unit, the second communication means of the main unit
includes a transmit function for optically transmitting image
signals to the second image reading means, and the control means
transmits the image signals, received through the image signal
communication means, to the second image reading means for storage
into the image memory when a predetermined condition is
satisfied.
13. The facsimile apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein the main
unit further includes a telephone section having a handset, and
hook state detecting means for detecting whether the handset is in
an on-hook or an off-hook state, and the control means transfers
the image signals from the second image reading means to the image
recording means when the handset is in the on-hook state, and the
control means transfers the image signals from the second image
reading means to the image signal communication means when the
handset is in the off-hook state.
14. The facsimile apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein image signal
transmission between the first and second communication means is
performed by light modulation.
15. The facsimile apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein image signal
transmission between the first and second communication means is
performed by photoelectric conversion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus which
includes a comparatively small portable image reading device
generally known as a handscanner and which is capable of
transmitting image signals read by the image reading device to a
remote facsimile apparatus or printing out the image represented by
the image signals on recording paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, facsimile apparatuses are equipped with an image
reader internal to the apparatuses. Such conventional facsimile
apparatus can only handle single-sheet documents (documents in
single-sheet form) but cannot directly handle bound documents such
as a book. Therefore, before transmission of bound documents, the
documents have to be copied on a copying machine to produce copies
that can be handled by the facsimile apparatus, a procedure which
is time consuming and troublesome. To overcome such difficulty,
recently developed facsimile apparatuses are equipped with a
comparatively small portable image reading device generally known
as a handscanner. This provides the useful feature that bound
documents can be directly read into the facsimile apparatus.
In the handscanner-equipped facsimile apparatus, the image signals
of the original documents read by the handscanner are first stored
in an image memory internal to the facsimile apparatus. Then, in
accordance with the operation performed by the operator, the image
signals are transmitted to a remote facsimile apparatus or a
duplicate image is printed out on recording paper. In such an
apparatus, the handscanner and the facsimile apparatus are
electrically interconnected with a cable for transmission of image
signals. Therefore, the image reading by the handscanner can only
be performed within the range limited by the length of the cable,
i.e. within the reach of the cable leading from the facsimile
apparatus. For example, when a book is to be read by the
handscanner for transmission by the facsimile apparatus, if the
book is in a room other than the room where the facsimile apparatus
is installed, one has to go to the trouble of taking the book to
the room where the facsimile apparatus is installed.
Furthermore, conventional facsimile apparatuses are usually
equipped with an image memory for temporarily storing a received
image signal, when the recording paper has run out, until the
facsimile apparatus is loaded with a new recording paper. The image
memory capacity, however, is limited to, for example, 40 pages of
standard A-4 size (297 mm.times.210 mm) documents, and it may not
be possible to receive all the image signals depending on the
amount of documents. Increasing the image memory capacity would
involve increasing the size of the apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a facsimile apparatus
which can enhance the operability and usefulness of a portable
image reading device when transmitting documents and which allows
effective utilization of the image reading device.
The objects of the present application are fulfilled by providing a
facsimile apparatus comprising:
a main unit having first image reading means for optically reading
a document image for conversion into image signals, image recording
means for printing out document images on recording paper, and
image signal communication means for transmitting and receiving
image signals over a telephone network; and
second image reading means for optically reading a document image
for conversion into image signals, the second image reading means
being portable, wherein
the second image reading means comprising:
an image memory for storing the image signals; and
first communication means for transmitting the image signals to the
main unit via a wireless path, and
the main unit comprising:
second communication means for receiving the image signals from the
second image reading means;
matching signal detecting means for detecting a prescribed matching
signal received from a remote terminal over the telephone network;
and
control means for transferring the image signals received by the
second communication means to the image signal communication means
when the matching signal is detected by the matching signal
detecting means.
The invention also provides a facsimile apparatus comprising:
a main unit having first image reading means for optically reading
a document image for conversion into image signals, image recording
means for printing out document images on recording paper, and
image signal communication means for transmitting and receiving
image signals over a telephone network; and
second image reading means for optically reading a document image
for conversion into image signals, the second image reading means
being portable, wherein
the second image reading means comprising:
an image memory for storing the image signals; and
first communication means for transmitting the image signals to the
main unit via a wireless path, and
the main network comprising:
second communication means for receiving the image signals from the
second image reading means;
telephone number storage means for storing a plurality of remote
terminal telephone numbers;
broadcast designating means for designating multi-address calling
for sequentially transmitting the same image signal to a plurality
of remote terminals; and
control means for sequentially calling the telephone numbers read
out of the telephone number storage means in response to the
designating means and for transferring the image signals received
by the second communication means to the image signal communication
means for multi-address calling.
In one preferred mode of the invention, the main unit further
includes: an external telephone; signal detecting means for
detecting a pushbutton dial signal or dial pulse signal from the
external telephone; and telephone number registration means for
writing an entered telephone number to the telephone number storage
means in accordance with the output of the signal detecting
means.
According to the invention, the second image reading device reads a
document image and stores the read image signals in the image
memory provided therein, the stored image signals being
subsequently transmitted to the main unit via a wireless path. When
a prescribed matching signal, transmitted from a remote terminal,
is detected by the matching signal detecting device, the main unit
transfers the image signals received by the second communication
device to the image signal communication device for transmission to
the remote terminal (facsimile apparatus).
Also, according to the invention, the second image reading device
reads a document image and stores the read image signals in the
image memory stored therein, the stored image signals being
subsequently transmitted to the main unit via a wireless path. In
the main unit, when multi-address calling is designated by the
designating device, the control device sequentially calls the
telephone numbers read out of the telephone number storage device
and transfers the image signals received by the second
communication device to the image signal communication device at
each telephone number call for transmission to the called facsimile
terminal, thereby performing the designated multi-address
calling.
Furthermore, according to the invention, the main unit includes
signal detecting device for detecting a pushbutton dial signal or
dial pulse signal from the external telephone, and the telephone
number detected by the signal detecting device, i.e. the telephone
number entered from the external telephone, is written to the
telephone number storage device by the telephone number
registration device. Thus, the registration of telephone numbers in
the telephone number storage device can be made from the external
telephone.
As described, according to the invention, when a prescribed
matching signal, transmitted from a remote terminal, is detected by
the matching signal detecting device, the image signals received by
the second communication device are transferred to the image signal
communication device for transmission to the remote terminal
(facsimile apparatus), thus allowing so-called memory transmission
by utilizing the image memory provided in the second image reading
device. This serves to enhance the usefulness of the facsimile
apparatus and expand the range of its applications.
Also, according to the invention, when multi-address calling is
designated by the designating device, the control device
sequentially calls the telephone numbers read out of the telephone
number storage device and transfers the image signals received by
the second communication device to the image signal communication
device at each called telephone number for transmission to the
called facsimile terminal, thereby performing the designated
multi-address calling. The image memory provided in the second
image reading device is thus utilized for multi-address calling,
thus further enhancing the usefulness of the facsimile apparatus
and expanding the range of its applications.
Furthermore, according to the invention, telephone numbers entered
from the external telephone are written to the telephone number
storage device by the telephone number registration device. Thus,
registration of telephone numbers in the telephone number storage
device can be made from the external telephone. Therefore, the main
unit need not be provided with numeric keys for registration of
telephone numbers, which serves to simplify the configuration and
reduce the size of the main unit.
The invention provides a facsimile apparatus comprising:
a main unit having first image reading means for optically reading
a document image for conversion into image signals, image recording
means for printing out document images on recording paper, and
image signal communication means for transmitting and receiving
image signals over a telephone network; and
second image reading means for optically reading a document image
for conversion into image signals, the second image reading device
being portable, wherein
the second image reading means comprising:
an image memory for storing the image signals; and
first communication means for transmitting the image signals to the
main unit via a wireless path, and
the main unit comprising:
second communication means for receiving the image signals from the
second image reading means;
control device for transferring the image signals received by the
second communication means to the image recording means or to the
image signal communication means.
in one preferred mode of the invention, the first communication
device of the second image reading device has a receive function
for receiving image signals from the main unit. Further, the second
communication device of the main unit has a transmit function for
transmitting image signals to the second image reading device, and
the control device transmits the image signals, received through
the image signal communication device, to the second reading device
for storing into the image memory when a predetermined condition is
satisfied.
In another preferred mode of the invention, the main unit includes
a telephone section having a handset, and a hook state detecting
device for detecting whether the handset is in the on-hook or
off-hook state. The control device transfers the image signals from
the second image reading device to the image recording device when
the handset is in the on-hook state, and to the image signal
communication device when it is in the off-hook state.
In a preferred mode of the invention, signal transmission between
the first and second communication device is performed by using the
technique of light modulation.
In another preferred mode of the invention, signal transmission
between the first and second communication device is performed by
using the technique of photoelectric conversion.
According to the invention, the second image reading device reads a
document image and stores the read image signals in the image
memory, the stored image signals being subsequently transmitted to
the main unit via a wireless path. The main unit transfers the
received image signals to the image recording device to produce a
duplicate image of the original document, or to the image signal
communication device for transmission to a remote facsimile
terminal.
Also, according to the invention, when a predetermined condition is
satisfied, the image signals received through the image signal
communication device are transmitted to the second image reading
device which then stores the thus transmitted image signals in the
image memory. The predetermined condition includes, for example,
the norecording-paper condition in the image recording device or
the designation of memory reception for high speed reception.
Furthermore, according to the invention, the main unit includes a
telephone section having a handset, and the hook state detecting
device detects the hook state of the handset. When the handset is
in the on-hook state, that is, when the main unit is not connected
to the telephone network, image signals received are transferred to
the image recording device to produce a duplicate image on
recording paper. On the other hand, when the handset is in the
off-hook state, that is, when the main unit is connected to the
telephone network over which a call is established, the image
signals received are transferred to the image signal communication
device for transmission to a remote facsimile terminal.
According to the invention, signal transmission between the main
unit and the second image reading device is performed by using the
technique of light modulation. Therefore, compared with a radio
transmission method using electric waves, the configuration of the
communication device can be simplified, and hence, the main unit
and the second image reading device can be reduced in size and
weight.
Furthermore, according to the invention, signal transmission
between the main unit and the second image reading device is
performed by using the technique of photoelectric conversion.
Therefore, compared with a radio transmission method using electric
waves, the configuration of the communication device can be
simplified, and hence, the main unit and the second image reading
means can be reduced in size and weight. Furthermore, compared with
the above light modulation method, the transmission range becomes
shorter, but the configuration can be further simplified, and
hence, the cost can be reduced as well as the size and weight.
As described, according to the invention, the second image reading
means reads a document image and stores the read image signals in
the image memory, the stored image signals being subsequently
transmitted to the main unit via a wireless path. The main unit
transfers the received image signals to the image recording means
to produce a duplicate image of the original document, or to the
image signal communication device for transmission to a remote
facsimile terminal. Thus, the second image reading means can be
used independently of the main unit, i.e., without being limited by
an interconnecting cable as was the case with conventional
apparatus. This serves to enhance the usefulness of the facsimile
apparatus and expand the range of its applications.
Also, according to the invention, when a predetermined condition is
satisfied, the image signals received through the image signal
communication means are transmitted to the second image reading
means which then stores the thus transmitted image signals in the
image memory. The predetermined condition includes, for example,
the no-recording-paper condition in the image recording device or
the designation of memory reception for high speed reception. This
serves to expand the functions of the facsimile apparatus.
Furthermore, according to the invention, when the handset is in the
on-hook state, that is, when the main unit is not connected to the
telephone network, image signals received are transferred to the
image recording device to produce a duplicate image on recording
paper. On the other hand, when the handset is in the off-hook
state, that is, when the main unit is connected to the telephone
network over which a call is established, the image signals
received are transferred to the image signal communication device
for transmission to a remote facsimile terminal. In this manner,
the image signals transmitted from the second image reading device
are automatically handled according to the hook state of the
handset, contributing to a significant increase in the operability
of the facsimile apparatus.
According to the invention, since signal transmission between the
main unit and the second image reading device is performed by using
the technique of light modulation, the configuration of the
communication device can be simplified, as compared with a radio
transmission method using electric waves. Thus, the main unit and
the second image reading device can be reduced in size and
weight.
Furthermore, according to the invention, since signal transmission
between the main unit and the second image reading device is
performed by using the technique of photoelectric conversion, the
configuration of the communication device can be simplified, as
compared with a radio transmission method using electric waves.
Thus, the main unit and the second image reading device can be
reduced in size and weight. Furthermore, compared with the above
light modulation method, the transmission range becomes shorter,
but the configuration can be further simplified, and hence, the
cost can be reduced as well as the size and weight.
These and other objects of the present application will become more
readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood from the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings which are
given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of
the present invention and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a
facsimile apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a main
unit 2 of the facsimile apparatus 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a
handscanner 3 of the facsimile apparatus 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one configuration of interfaces 5
and 6 respectively incorporated in the main unit 2 and the
handscanner 3;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an another configuration of the
interfaces 5 and 6;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit
2;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the handscanner
3;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2
during facsimile reception;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2
in another mode;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2
in yet another mode; and
FIG. 11 is a flowchart explaining the operation for registering
telephone numbers in the main unit 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Now referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the
invention are described below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a
facsimile apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.
The facsimile apparatus 1 comprises a main unit 2 and a
comparatively small portable image reading device (hereinafter also
referred to as a handscanner) 3. The main unit 2 is connected to a
telephone network 7 and is installed in predetermined place. The
handscanner 3 is separable from the main unit 2 and includes an
image memory 4 for storing image signals of a document image read
by the scanner or image signals transferred from the main unit 2.
The handscanner 3 also includes an interface 5 for transferring
image signals and various control signals to and from an interface
6 in the main unit 2. Interconnection between the main unit 2 and
the handscanner 3 is cordless, as commonly called, and is
accomplished by one of a radio or an optical communication method,
for example. In the embodiment described herein, an optical
communication method is employed for the interconnection.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the
main unit 2. The main unit 2 includes a central processing unit
(CPU) 8 to which are connected a read-only memory (ROM) 9, a
random-access memory (RAM) 10, and a controller 11. The ROM 9
contains various programs and parameters for controlling the entire
operation of the main unit 2, while the RAM 10 includes such areas
as a work area used during program execution, a parameter storage
area for storing various control data, a telephone number storage
area for storing remote terminal telephone numbers for
multi-address calling described hereinafter, and a password storage
area for storing passwords that are referenced at the time of
polling hereinafter described. The CPU 8 loads programs from the
ROM 9 for execution and controls the operation of the main unit 2
through the controller 11.
Connected to the controller 11 is the interface 6 for transferring
image signals and various control signals to and from the
handscanner 3. Also connected to the controller 11 is a modem 12
for modulating and demodulating image data, and to the modem 12 is
connected a network control unit 13. The network control unit 13
connects the telephone network 7 with the modem 12 or with a
telephone section hereinafter described. Also connected to the
network control unit 13 is a hook detection circuit 14 to which a
built-in telephone 15 and an external telephone 17 are connected.
The built-in telephone 15 and the external telephone 17 are
provided with a handset 16 or 18, and the hook state of each of the
handsets 16 and 18 is detected by the hook detection circuit 14,
and the detected signal is fed to the controller 11.
Also connected to the network control unit 13 is a number detection
circuit 27 for detecting a dial pulse signal or a pushbutton dial
signal from the telephone. The detected number is supplied to the
controller 11.
There is connected to the controller 11 a recording processor 19
which transfers image signals, received via the modem 12, to a
recording section 20 for printing on a recording paper. Also
connected to the controller 11 is a reading processor 21 which
converts a document image, read by a reading section 23, into image
signals which are, for example, binary-coded using an image
processing memory 22. These signals are transferred to the
controller 11 from which they are transmitted to a remote terminal
over the telephone network 7 or to the handscanner 3 via the
interface 6.
Furthermore, the controller 11 is connected to: a piezoelectric
buzzer 24 for notifying error occurrence to the user; and an
operation section 25 having a plurality of key switches for setting
various functions of the main unit 2 and for directing the
initiation of their operations. The operation section 25 includes
memory keys and quick dial keys hereinafter described. Power is
supplied to the main unit 2 from a power supply circuit 26.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the
handscanner 3. The handscanner 3 includes a CPU 31 to which are
connected a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a controller 34, and a memory
controller 35. The ROM 32 contains various programs and parameters
for controlling the operation of the handscanner 3, while the RAM
33 includes such areas as a work area used during program execution
and a storage area for storing various control data. The CPU 31
loads programs from the ROM 32 for execution and controls the
controller 34 and the memory controller 35.
Connected to the controller 34 is the interface 5 for transferring
image signals and various control signals to and from the main unit
2. Also connected to the controller 34 is a reading processor 36
which converts a document image, read by a reading section 37, into
image signals which are, for example, binary-coded using an image
processing memory 38. These signals are transferred to the
controller 34 from which they are transmitted to the main unit 2
via the interface 5 or fed to the image memory 4 through the memory
controller 35.
Furthermore, the controller 34 is connected to: a piezoelectric
buzzer 39 for notifying error occurrence to the operator of the
handscanner 3; and an operation section 40 having various key
switches for setting the operating conditions of the handscanner 3.
Power to drive the handscanner 3 is supplied from a power supply
circuit 41 which is implemented as a battery or the like.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the
interfaces 5 and 6. The interfaces 5 and 6 each comprise a pair of
transmitting and receiving units 51-58 or 61-68. In this
embodiment, eight kinds of signals (including image signals) are
transferred between the interfaces 5 and 6 by using the technique
of light modulation. Table 1 below shows the eight kinds of
signals.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Signal Signal No.
Function name Direction name Function
______________________________________ 1 Send data SD .fwdarw. RD
Receive data 2 Send data RS .fwdarw. CD Receive data enable enable
3 Receive data RD .rarw. SD Send data 4 Receive data CD .rarw. RS
Send data enable enable 5 Terminal ER .fwdarw. DR Data set ready
ready 6 Send timing STI .fwdarw. RT Receive signal timing signal 7
Receive RT .rarw. STI Send timing timing signal signal 8 Scanner
set SS .rarw. SS Scanner set signal signal
______________________________________
The configurations of the transmitting unit and receiving unit are
the same between the interfaces 5 and 6, and therefore, the
following description deals with the transmitting unit 51 and the
receiving unit 61. The send data SD supplied from the controller 11
is modulated by a modulation circuit 45 and applied to the cathode
of a light-emitting diode 47 via a resistor 46. A constant voltage
Vcc is applied to the anode of the light-emitting diode 47. The
light emitted from the light-emitting diode 47 is received by a
light-receiving element 48, demodulated by a demodulation circuit
50, and supplied as receive data RD to the controller 34 of the
handscanner 3.
Likewise, the send data SD supplied from the controller 34 of the
handscanner 3 is transmitted by the transmitting unit 52, received
by the receiving unit 62, and supplied as receive data RD to the
controller 11 of the main unit 2. The transmitting unit 52 is
identical in configuration to the transmitting unit 61, and the
receiving unit 62 is identical in configuration to the receiving
unit 51. Transmission of the other signals is also performed
between the interfaces 5 and 6 in the same manner as described
above.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an another configuration of the
interfaces 5 and 6. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, signals
are transferred between the interfaces 5 and 6 by using the
technique of photoelectric conversion. In FIG. 5, the reference
numerals designating corresponding parts are the same as those in
FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is different from FIG. 4 in the configurations of
the receiving unit and transmitting unit; otherwise. the
configuration and operation of FIG. 5 are the same as those of FIG.
4.
In FIG. 5, the configurations of the receiving unit and
transmitting unit are the same between the interfaces 5 and 6, and
therefore, the following description deals with the receiving unit
51 and the transmitting unit 61. The send signal SD supplied from
the controller 11 of the main unit 2 is applied to the cathode of a
light-emitting diode 73 via a drive circuit 71 and a resistor 72. A
constant voltage Vcc is applied to the anode of the light-emitting
diode 73. The light emitted from the light-emitting diode 73 is
directed to the base of a phototransistor 74. A constant voltage
Vcc is applied to the collector of the phototransistor 74, the
emitter of which is grounded via a resistor 75. Connected to the
node between the phototransistor 74 and the resistor 75 is a
waveform shaping circuit 76, the output of which is supplied as
receive data RD to the controller 34 of the handscanner 3.
Likewise, when transmitting image data from the handscanner 3, the
send data SD is transmitted from the transmitting unit 52 to the
receiving unit 62, and the receive data RD is transferred to the
controller 11 of the main unit 2. The transmitting unit 52 is
identical in configuration to the transmitting unit 61, and the
receiving unit 62 is identical in configuration to the receiving
unit 51. Transmission of the other signals between the interfaces 5
and 6 is also performed in the same manner as above by means of the
paired transmitting unit and receiving unit.
Table 2 below shows various operation modes of the facsimile
apparatus 1.
TABLE 2
__________________________________________________________________________
Main unit 2 Opera- Record- Handscanner 3 tion ing Hook Start Start
Description of mode Document paper SW key Memory key operation
__________________________________________________________________________
1 -- -- -- -- Same as conventional FAX 2 -- -- -- ON -- Same as
conventional FAX 3 -- .largecircle. ON .largecircle. ON Print
(copy) contents of handscanner 4 -- X ON .largecircle. ON Error,
buzzer processing, and alarm lamp (Main unit 2) 5 -- .largecircle.
ON X ON Temporarity blink alarm lamp on scanner 6 -- X ON X ON
Temporarity blink alarm lamp on scanner 7 -- -- OFF .largecircle.
ON Send contents of handscanner 8 -- -- OFF X ON Temporarily blink
alarm lamp on scanner
__________________________________________________________________________
FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2.
In step a1, it is determined whether the start key on the operation
section 25 of the main unit 1 has been depressed. If the start key
is depressed, the operation proceeds to step a2 if not, the
operation proceeds to step a5.
In step a2, it is determined whether or not the handset 16 or 18,
is in the off-hook state. If it is not in the off-hook state, that
is, if it is in the on-hook state, the operation proceeds to step
a3. If it is in the off-hook state, the operation proceeds to step
a4.
In step a3, it is determined whether a document is set in the
reading section 23. If no document is set, a recording paper
feeding operation is performed whereby the recording paper is fed
by a predetermined length. If a document is set, the document is
scanned and the scanned document image is printed or copied on the
recording paper.
In step a4, if the handset 16 or 18 is in the off-hook state with a
document set in the reading section 23, the document is
transmitted. On the other hand, if the handset 16 or 18 is in the
off-hook state with no document set, image data from a remote
station is received. The received data is printed out on the
recording paper or stored in the image memory 4 in accordance with
the procedure hereinafter described.
In step a5, decision is made whether the handscanner 3 is set for
the main unit 2. The decision is made, based on whether the scanner
set signal SS has been received or not. The term "set" used herein
does not mean physical contact but means that the interfaces 5 and
6 are enabled for transmission and reception of image data and
various control signals. If the handscanner 3 is set, the operation
proceeds to step a6; if not, the operation returns to step a1.
In step a6, it is determined whether there is data transmission
from the handscanner 3. If there is data transmission, the
operation proceeds to step a7; if not, the operation returns to
step a1.
In step a7, it is determined whether or not the handset 16 or 18,
is in the off-hook state. If it is in the off-hook state, i.e. for
communication with a remote station, the operation proceeds to step
a8. If it is not in the off-hook state, that is, if it is in the
on-hook state, the operation proceeds to step a13.
In step a8, image data is received from the handscanner 3. In step
a9, it is determined whether the received image data is in data
compression mode or not. If it is not in data compression mode,
data compression is performed in step a10 before proceeding to step
a11. If the data is in data compression mode, the operation jumps
to step a11.
In step a11, the image signals received from handscanner 3 are
transmitted to the remote station with which a call has been
established. In step a12, a decision is made whether transmission
of the image signals for one page has been completed or not. If
not, the operation returns to step a8 to continue transmission of
the image signals. When transmission of the image signals for one
page is completed, the transmitting operation is temporarily
suspended, and if there are image signals to be transmitted for the
next page, the operation returns to step a8 to resume the image
signal transmitting operation. If there are no image signals to be
transmitted for the next page, the image signal transmitting
operation is terminated. In this manner the image signals stored in
the image memory 4 of the handscanner 3 can be transmitted to a
remote station through the main unit 2.
In step a13, image signals are received from the handscanner 3, and
in step a14, it is determined whether the received image signals
are in data compression mode or not. If the signals are in data
compression mode, data expansion is performed in step a15 before
proceeding to step a16. If the signals are not in data compression
mode, the operation jumps to step a16.
In step a16, a decision is made whether data for one line has been
received or not. If the decision is YES, the operation proceeds to
step a17; if NO, the operation returns to step a13.
In step a17, a recording paper feeding motor installed in the
recording section 20 is driven to feed the recording paper by one
line, and in step a18, one line of data is printed.
In step a19, it is determined whether printing of one page has been
completed or not. If not completed, the operation returns to step
a13 to continue the printing operation. When printing of one page
has been completed, the printing operation is suspended, and it is
determined whether the image signals for the next page have been
received or not. If received, the printing operation is resumed to
print the image signals; if not, the printing operation is
terminated. In this manner the image signals stored in the memory 4
of the handscanner 3 are transmitted to the main unit 2 for
printing on the recording paper, thus producing a duplicate image
of the document read by the handscanner 3.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the handscanner
3. In step b1, it is determined whether the start key on the
operation section 40 of the handscanner 3 has been depressed or
not. If the start key is depressed, the operation proceeds to step
b2 where it is determined whether data transmission is enabled or
not, i.e. whether the handscanner 3 is set for the main unit 2. As
previously explained, the term "set" does not mean physical contact
but means that the interfaces 5 and 6 are enabled for transmission
and reception of image signals and various control signals. When
data transmission is enabled, the operation proceeds to step b3;
when data transmission is not enabled, the operation proceeds to
step b5.
In step b3, data is transmitted to the main unit 2, and in step b4,
it is determined whether the data transmission is completed or not.
When the data transmission is completed, the operation is
terminated. If not completed yet, the process returns to step b3 to
continue the data transmission.
In step b2, if data transmission is not enabled, it is determined
that the handscanner 3 is directed to read a document. That is, in
step b5, a decision is made whether a line timing signal has been
detected or not. If the signal is detected, the operation proceeds
to step b6: if not, the operation proceeds to step b10.
In step b6, data for one line is read, and the thus read data is
stored into the image memory 4 in step b7.
In step b8, it is determined whether data compression mode is set
or not. When data compression mode is set, data compression is
performed on the stored data, and then the operation returns to
step b5. When data compression mode is not set, the operation
directly returns to step b5. Thereafter, each time the line timing
signal is detected, data for one line is read in the same manner as
described above.
In step b10, if the line timing signal has not been detected within
a preset time, the document reading operation, i.e. the image
signal storing operation, is terminated.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2
during facsimile reception. When a call is received from a calling
station in step c1, a decision is made in step c2 whether memory
reception mode is set or not. If memory reception mode is set, the
operation proceeds to step c3; if not, the operation proceeds to
step c10.
In step c3, the main unit 2 sends a signal to check the conditions
of the handscanner 3. This signal includes a signal to check the
remaining memory amount of the image memory 4 of the handscanner 3
and the format of data stored in the image memory 4.
In step c4, a response signal is received from the handscanner 3.
The response signal includes data on the remaining memory amount of
the image memory 4 and information on the format of data stored
therein.
In step c5, it is determined, based on the response signal, whether
the data stored in the image memory 4 is receive data or not. If it
is receive data, the operation proceeds to step c6; if not, the
operation proceeds to c8.
In step c6, it is determined, based on the response signal, whether
the image memory 4 of the handscanner 3 has a remaining memory
amount. In this case, it is checked if the remaining memory amount
is enough to store image signals for at least one page. When the
remaining memory amount is enough, the operation proceeds to step
c7; if there is not enough memory amount left, the operation
proceeds to step c8.
In step c7, received image signals are transmitted to the
handscanner 3 for storage in the image memory 4.
In step c8, it is determined whether or not the recording section
20 has run out of recording paper. That is, if the decision is
negative in step c5 or c6, it is not possible to store received
image signals into the image memory 4 of the handscanner 3, and
therefore, it becomes necessary to print out the received data onto
the recording paper instead of storing them in the image memory 4.
Thus, when the recording paper is not out, normal receiving
operation is performed. On the other hand, if the recording paper
is out, the operation proceeds to step c9 to notify the operator of
the occurrence of an error situation. The error may be annunciated
by activating the piezoelectric buzzer 24 or by displaying an error
message on a display not shown.
If, in step c2, memory reception mode is not set, it is determined
in step c10 whether or not the recording section 20 has run out of
recording paper. That is, when memory reception mode is not set and
the recording paper is not out, normal receiving operation is
performed to print out the received image onto the recording paper.
When memory reception mode is not set, normal receiving operation
is not possible if the recording section 20 has run out of
recording paper, in which case the process proceeds to step c3 to
initiate the procedure for memory reception.
As described, according to the present embodiment, the handscanner
3 is separable from the main unit 2, has the image memory 4, and
transfers image signals and various control signals to and from the
main unit 2 by using a technique of optical communication.
Therefore, the operating range of the handscanner 3 is not limited
by the length of an interconnecting cable, and thus, the
operability and usefulness thereof are greatly enhanced.
Furthermore, since the hook states of the handsets 15 and 16 of the
built-in telephone 15 and the external telephone 17 are detected to
decide whether the image data received from the handscanner 3
should be transmitted to a remote station or should be printed out
on the recording paper, there is no need to operate the keys to
designate these operations. Therefore, the operability is greatly
enhanced.
Moreover, the image signals received by the main unit 2 over the
telephone network 7 can be transmitted, when necessary, to the
handscanner 3 for storing into the image memory 4, to effectively
utilize the image memory 4. That is, when a non-normal situation
has occurred, for example, when the recording section 20 has run
out of recording paper and therefore cannot record received data on
the recording paper, then the image signals are transmitted to the
image memory 4 for storage therein. The description of the present
embodiment is based on the assumption that an image memory is not
provided in the main unit 2, but it is apparent that the same
effect as described above can be achieved if the main unit 2 is
equipped with an image memory.
The main unit 2 and the handscanner 3 are coupled together by
optical communication using such techniques as photoelectric
conversion or light modulation. Therefore, compared with radio
transmission using electric waves or the like, the configuration of
the interfaces 5 and 6 can be simplified, and hence, the size and
cost of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be reduced. When the light
modulation technique is employed, a relatively long transmission
range of about 1 meter can be achieved although the configuration
becomes more or less complex. On the other hand, in the case of
photoelectric conversion, the circuit configuration can be
simplified although the transmission range becomes as short as
several centimeters.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2
in another mode. The flowchart describes the operation when a
remote terminal, the calling station, polls the facsimile apparatus
1, the called station.
When an incoming call from the calling station is detected in step
n1, it is determined in step n2, based for example on the CNG
signal, etc., whether the call is for facsimile communication or
not. If it is for facsimile communication, the operation proceeds
to step n3; if it is not for facsimile transmission, that is, if
the call is for voice communication, a piezoelectric buzzer or the
like installed in the main unit 2 is activated to issue a ringing
tone.
In step n3, it is determined whether image data has been received
or not. If no image data is received, the operation proceeds to
step n4: if image data is received, the operation proceeds to step
n14.
In step n4, it is determined whether or not a polling request is
received from the calling station. If received, the operation
proceeds to step n5; if not, the operation proceeds to step
n16.
In step n5, it is determined whether or not an identification
signal is received following the polling request. If received, the
operation proceeds to step n6; if not, the operation proceeds to
step n16.
In step n6, the received identification signal is checked against a
list of passwords prestored in the main unit 2. In step n7, if
there is a match, the operation proceeds to step n8, and if no
match is found, the operation proceeds to step n16.
In step n8, it is determined whether a document is set in the main
unit 2. If no document is set, the operation proceeds to step n9;
if there is a document set in the main unit 2, the operation
proceeds to step n15.
In step n9, a signal is sent to the handscanner 3 to check the
memory status, and in step n10, a response signal is received from
the handscanner 3. In step n11, it is determined, based on the
response signal, whether any data is already stored in the image
memory 4. If there is data already stored therein, the operation
proceeds to step n12 where it is determined whether the stored data
is send data or receive data. If it is not receive data, that is,
if it is send data, the operation proceeds to step n13 to transmit
the data to the remote facsimile terminal.
In step n11, if no data is stored in the image memory 4, or in step
n12, if the data stored in the image memory 4 is receive data, the
operation proceeds to step n16 to annunciate an error, after which
the receiving operation is terminated.
In step n8, if a document is already set in the main unit 2, the
document is scanned in step n15. In step n13, the scanned document,
i.e. the image signal, is transmitted to the calling facsimile
apparatus.
If image data is received in step n3, the operation proceeds to
step n14 to print out the received image data onto the recording
paper.
As described above, when a polling request is made from a remote
station, if there is a password match, image signals are
transmitted from the main unit 2 to the remote station. When there
is a document already set in the main unit 2, the image signals to
be transmitted are derived by scanning the document. When no
document is set in the main unit 2, the image signals stored in the
image memory of the handscanner 3 are transmitted. The facsimile
apparatus 1 performs a polling transmission in this manner. This
serves to enhance the usefulness of the facsimile apparatus 1 and
expand the range of its applications.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main unit 2
in yet another mode. The flowchart describes the multi-address
calling operation of the facsimile apparatus 1.
When a multi-address calling key is pressed in step m1, it is
determined in step m2 whether a document is set in the main unit 2.
If no document is set, the operation proceeds to step m3; if a
document is set, the operation proceeds to step m12.
In step m3, a signal is sent to the handscanner 3 to check the
image memory status. In step m4, a response signal from the
handscanner 3 is received. In step m5, it is determined, based on
the response signal, whether any data is already stored in the
image memory 4, and if there is data already stored therein, it is
determined in step m6 whether the stored data is receive data or
not. If it is not receive data, that is, if it is the image data to
be transmitted, the operation proceeds to step m7.
In step m7, it is determined whether or not a telephone number is
entered. The remote terminal telephone numbers to be called for the
reception of multi-address calling may be manually entered one by
one or may be read out of a telephone number list stored in memory.
After entering telephone numbers, the operation proceeds to step
m8.
When the start key is pressed in step m8, a calling operation is
performed in step m9 to call each of the entered telephone numbers.
In step m10, the image signals stored in the handscanner 3 are
transmitted to the facsimile apparatus at each called station.
In step m11, it is determined whether there still remains any
entered telephone number, that is, whether the image signals have
been transmitted to all the designated stations. If not, the
operation returns to step m9 to transmit the image signals to the
next designated telephone number. When all transmissions have been
completed, the operation is terminated.
In step m2, if a document is set in the main unit 2, the document
is scanned to obtain the image signals for transmission by
multi-address calling. In this case, the handscanner 3 is
interrogated first to see if it has enough memory space to store
the image signals.
First, in step m12, a signal is sent to the handscanner 3 to check
the image memory status. In step m13, a response signal from the
handscanner 3 is received. In step m14, it is determined, based on
the response signal, whether any data is already stored in the
image memory. If there is data already stored therein, it is
determined in step m15 whether a prescribed memory space is secured
or not. If not, the operation proceeds to step m20 to annunciate an
error and then returns to step m1.
In step m14, if no data is stored in the image memory, or in step
m15, if a prescribed memory space is left in the image memory, the
operation proceeds to step m16. In step m16, it is determined, as
in step m7, whether or not a telephone number is entered. After
entering telephone numbers, it is determined in step m17 whether
the start key is pressed. When the start key is pressed, the
document set in the main unit 2 is scanned in step m18. In step
m19, the image signals representing the scanned document are stored
in the image memory of the handscanner 3. Thereafter, the operation
proceeds to step m9 to initiate multi-address calling as described
above.
As described, when image signals are stored in the handscanner 3,
the image signals are transmitted by multi-address calling, and
when a document is set in the main unit 2, the document image is
transmitted by multi-address calling utilizing the image memory of
the handscanner 3. This serves to enhance the usefulness of the
facsimile apparatus 1 and expand the range of its applications.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart explaining the operation for registering
telephone numbers in telephone number storage device provided in
the main unit 2. When the memory key on the main unit 2 is pressed
in step d1, the external telephone is disconnected from the
telephone network in step d2. In step d3, a telephone number is
dialed using the external telephone, the dialled number being
displayed on a display of the main unit 2. The operator checks the
displayed telephone number to see if the number is entered
correctly.
When a quick dial key is pressed in step d5, the entered telephone
number is written into the telephone number storage device in step
d6. In step d7, the display is cleared.
When the memory key is pressed in step d8, the telephone number
registration operation is terminated, and in step d9, the external
telephone is connected to the telephone network. To continue the
registration operation, the memory key is not pressed but the
process is returned to step d3 to repeat the procedure for
registration.
Since the external telephone can be used to register telephone
numbers in the telephone number storage device, the main unit 2
need not be provided with numeric keys for registering telephone
numbers, which serves to simplify the configuration of the main
unit 2.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description and all changes and modifications which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *